Bank Robber Demands Only $100 from Tellers, Fails

Bank robbery, in general, is crime of volume. Less than five percent of thieves crack the safe. The great majority, focused on getting out of the building as quickly as possible, target the money with the tellers at the counter. The average take of a bank robbery is $4,000. The big money, as history has shown, goes to the bandits who master the criminal art and execute a steady string of heists.

Volume was certainly the strategy of the bank robber suspected of striking seven banks across New York City within three days last week. This man's aim, however, did not appear to be big money. The note he handed tellers demanded just $100.

Yet even such a modest robbery attempt did not guarantee success. As we noted in our May feature story about a $200,000 heist, there is an illusion of ease to the idea of robbing a bank. This robber learned the lesson first hand.

The spree began on Monday afternoon, at a Bank of America in Washington Heights. From there, according to the NYPD, the robber moved south down the west side over the next 90 minutes, hitting a Capital One on 181st Street, then a Chase on 93rd, then a Citibank near Columbus Circle.

At each location, he gave the teller the "Give me 100" note. At three of the banks, the teller refused to give him any money, and he left with nothing. At one of the Manhattan banks, he fled with $50.

He found slightly more success in the Bronx, where he went following the failed Columbus Circle attempt. He stole $400 from a Chase in Bedford Park.

Surveillance footage appeared to show that the same man was behind all four attempts. He was heavyset, with a beard, and he wore a Cincinnati Reds cap and a red shirt.